Rick Steves Recommends This Budget-Friendly, DIY Sightseeing Tour In Vienna

Vienna is one of Europe's finest cities. The historic capital of a continent-spanning empire, Vienna is a symbol of Old World elegance filled with stunning architecture and rich cultural highlights. Vienna was home to some of the most important icons of music, theater, and literature, and was the beating heart of Europe's intellectual scene for centuries. It's a truly beautiful city, and one of the most exciting destinations in Europe.

However, city breaks in Europe can be expensive, and Vienna is no exception. Entrance tickets to the most impressive attractions usually cost more than $20, meaning travelers often find themselves spending enormous amounts on just a few entries, particularly if on a family vacation. When added to the cost of transport, accommodation, and eating out, expensive tours and entrance fees can quickly eat into your budget. Luckily, European travel guru Rick Steves has a neat, affordable tip to help you get the most out of a trip to Vienna in the form of a DIY sightseeing tour around the grand Ringstrasse, which circumnavigates the city.

Steves is a huge fan of Vienna. He says the "city's devotion to the musical arts and its democratic embrace of culture are inspirational", and he cites his visit here, as part of his first trip to Europe in 1969, as one of the main catalysts for his deep love of the Old World. His "handy do-it-yourself budget tour" takes you on a tram ride around many of Vienna's top sights, and is a wonderful introduction to this marvelous city.

The Ringstrasse is a circular boulevard that circumnavigates Vienna's Innere Stadt, the historic city center. Rick Steves says, "In the 1860s, Emperor Franz Josef had Vienna's medieval wall torn down. He replaced it with this impressive boulevard, which arcs nearly three miles around the city core." It's often described as one of the world's most beautiful boulevards, and boasts a fabulous combination of palaces, historic architecture, gorgeous green spaces, and some of the best museums in Vienna.

Walking the entirety of the Ringstrasse would be a challenge and take up most of your day, and private tours or buses are expensive. Luckily, two tram lines, 1 and 2, take canny travelers all the way around the loop in around 30 minutes, offering a quick and affordable way to enjoy a highlights package of Vienna's history. Individual tram tickets cost €3 (around $3.50), but you can buy a day pass for €9.70 (around $11.50), which allows you to stop along the way to see the most beautiful buildings in more detail.

While the architecture that lines the Ringstrasse looks historic, travelers are often surprised by how modern it actually is. Steves says that "because this ring road is actually older than all the buildings that line it, what you see is very 'Neo': Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic, Neoclassical, and Neo-Baroque." Most of the buildings were built in the late 19th century, with the last one, the Ministry of War, not completed until 1913. However, they were all designed to look older, with "a choice of style [which] seems to fit each building's function", according to Steves. As a result, the parliament is Neoclassical, a nod to democracy's Greek roots, while the City Hall is Neo-Gothic, "recalling the age when local merchants ran the government".

The Ringstrasse is lined with an incredible array of beautiful buildings, and you could easily just sit on the tram and enjoy the view. But there are a few unmissable attractions well worth paying a little extra attention to. The first on the list is the Vienna State Opera, "arguably the greatest opera house in Europe", per Rick Steves. This gorgeous edifice was the first major building constructed on the Ringstrasse, and is a fabulous example of Neo-Renaissance style. It's worth stepping inside to see the impressive marble staircases and ornate lobbies, or to catch a show in the auditorium.

The Austrian Parliament is another impressive structure, all soaring columns and Greek Revival grandeur. Stopping here lets you enjoy the parliament building, as well as the charming natural beauty of the Volkspark, the massive Neo-Gothic Rathaus (City Hall), and the flamboyant Neo-Baroque beauty of Vienna's Imperial Court Theater.

Perhaps the most impressive sight on your Ringstrasse tour will be the Hofburg, the enormous palace complex which "dominates the town center", according to Steves, and was the heart of the Habsburg empire. The outside of the palace is magnificent, a sprawling group of stunning buildings that combine to be one of the largest palace complexes in the world. However, it's well worth exploring inside, as the palace is home to an extraordinary array of things to see and do, including the luxurious Imperial Apartments, the Spanish Riding School, the Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Treasury.